Katie Prevatt

Katie Prevatt, the new coordinator for the Beaches Resource Center, has a personal interest in her new position. For the first time in her career she is living in the community she is serving.

“It is so nice to be able to do important work in the community where you live,” said Prevatt, who lives in Jacksonville Beach with her husband Chris Prevatt, and their 5-month-old daughter, Annie.

“I have always worked in areas where I didn’t actually live. I have a family here and the Beach is my community. I am so fortunate and excited to be in this position.”

The Beaches Resource Center is one of eight locations throughout Duval County where United Way of Northeast Florida runs its Full Service Schools initiative, a collaboration of several funding partners and over 25 nonprofit agency service providers aimed to remove the nonacademic barriers to student success. Services such as counseling, health services, social services and mentoring are offered.

“What is really neat about this job is that the Beaches Resource Center is not totally defined,” Prevatt said. “It can be whatever we need it to be to serve the community.”

Former coordinator Linda Hemphill was promoted within the United Way. Ross McDonough, director of Full Service Schools of Jacksonville, said they received about 75 resumes for the position and that Prevatt “stood out as the right person for the job.”

“She brings a wealth of experience and skill to the position,” said Terry Hoffman, Beaches Resource Center Oversight Chairperson.

Prevatt had been the area coordinator for the American Red Cross in St. Johns and Putnam counties for three years prior.

Although she  just started two weeks ago, she already has several short-term and long-term goals for the center.

“One of the immediate goals is to make sure we have representation at all the schools,” Prevatt said.

“I also want to have more student involvement. We are mostly serving the students so I think they should be telling us what are the big issues facing them.”

She said long-term goals are the challenges the center has always faced – being able to meet the needs.

“With the economy we are seeing a huge increase in mental health need and people coming in who have health insurance but can’t afford a $100 co-pay,” she said.

“It’s really hard when someone comes and they need services but they get put on a waiting list. These kinds of issues are going to be tremendous for next year and how we respond to them.”

Prevatt graduated from Nease High in 1998 and the University of Florida with a degree in math in 2002. She briefly worked in finance before realizing “it wasn’t for her.” She worked for Americorp for two years, first doing environmental work in Massachusetts and then returning to the area to help with affordable housing on the north side of Jacksonville.

“Affordable housing is such a big issue and something I’m really passionate about as far as issues, so that was an awesome experience,” she said.

Prevatt earned her master’s degree in public administration from the University of North Florida in 2007 while she was working for the American Red Cross. She was also looking for a position closer to home after the birth of her daughter, Annie, this year.

“This is an ideal position for me because it’s my community,” Prevatt said.

For services at the Beaches Resource Center, call 904-270-8200.